Sealing sleeve for tube units



July 13, 1948. w. M. KENNEDY 2,445,273

w SEALING SLEEVE FOR TUBE UNITS Filed Nov. 8, 1945 INV N OR MuMM/Z awmav ATTORNY Patented July 13, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SEALING SLEEVE FOR TUBE UNITS William M. Kennedy, Lyndhurst, N. J.

Application November 8, 1945, Serial No. 627,464

8 Claims.

This invention relates to tube units of bundles of condensers, heat exchangers and similar apparatus. More particularly the invention relates to the use of a pair of sleeves adapted for insertion in end portions of tubes of the character described to provide reinforcing and surfacing means in the tube ends, and further in providing a sealing sleeve for repairing corroded or otherwise worn tubes and to seal such tubes. The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and in which the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view through a part of a tube sheet, showing one tube mounted therein and illustrating one of my improved sealing sleeves mounted in position; and

Fig. 2 is a side and sectional view of the sealing sleeve, detached.

In tube units or bundles for condensers, heat exchangers and similar apparatus, it has been experienced that a tube, and particularly that part of the tube disposed withinthe tube sheet, becomes pitted, corroded or otherwise damaged, often to the extent of causing a leak through the tube and tube sheet. Aside from this leakage and the corroded or pitted condition of the tube, the tube is otherwise in good condition and suitable for use.

When such conditions prevail, I provide a sealing sleeve which is adapted to be tightly fitted or dniven into the tube and to extend into the tube well beyond the inner surface of the tube plate to provide a long sealing element as well as a reinforcing element to reinforce said end portion of the tube. It is also preferred that the sealing sleeve include an outer facing of fibrous material which will more readily fit or conform with the uneven contour of a corroded or pitted tube, and particularly in expansion of said fibre tube when subjected to the moisture of the fluid passed through the condenser tube.

In Fig. 1 of the drawing, I have shown at 5, in section, a small portion of a tube sheet in which many tubes of a tube unit or bundle are adapted to be mounted. At 6 I have shown a transverse tube receiving aperture in the sheet 5 adapted to receive the tube I, the tube 1 being snugly fitted in the aperture 6 in the usual and known manner. At 8 I have shown one of my improved sealing sleeve units. This unit comprises an inner thin walled metal or plastic sleeve- 9 having an outwardly bevelled inner end In and a thick walled flange II at the other end, the flange ll terminating at its periphery in an inturned annular rim I 2, forming on the inner surface of the flange an annular groove or recess 13.

2 Mounted on the sleeve 9 is an elongated sleeve l4 composed of a material free to expand or extend when subjected to the presence of moisture.

The sleeve I4 is preferably a fibre sleeve, and the inner end of this sleeve has a taper l5 conforming with and alined with the taper ID of the sleeve 9. It is preferred that both tapers l0 and [5 be simultaneously formed in order to eliminate any possible ridge between the two tapers and these tapers are made suificiently flat or long to provide a gradual reduction between the bore l8 of the tube I and the bore ll of the sleeve unit 8. The outer end portion of the fibre sleeve l4 seats in the groove I3 and abuts the flange l I. The sleeve M will be firmly supported upon the sleeve 9 so as to prevent relative movement of these sleeves one with respect to the other, thus the sleeve l4 may be said to comprise a fibrous facing upon the sleeve 9 and extending the full length thereon.

In different uses of my invention, different sealing materials can be employed, and the sealing sleeve or facing will form a long sealing surface in the bore iii of the tube 1 and to a point well inwardly of the inner surface l8 of the tube sheet 5, so as to care for any leakage that might occur in the tube [8 inwardly of but adjacent the tube sheet 5. Further this long extension of the unit 8 serves to reinforce the tube 1 and to give long use to the tube 1 repaired by the sealing unit 8. In fact, a repair of this type and kind may last sufficiently long to keep a ship afloat and in operation until such time as it is otherwise deemed necessary to be brought to drydock for general overhauling and repair.

While my present invention is particularly desirable for use in connection with apparatus of the kind under consideration, as used on board ships of various kinds and classes, it is also adap able on apparatus of the class under consideration regardless of the use thereof and when it is desired to make a repair which will stand up for a relatively long period of time.

It will be apparent that the sleeve or thick walled flange l l at theouter end of the unit 8 provides a substantial surface which may be utilized in driving the unit into position within a tube. The flanged end ll of the sleeve 9 also preferably has a rounded inner surface l9, or in other words, the bore 11 of the sleeve flares outwardly into said rounded surface to provide free flow of fluid through the unit 8 into the tube 1. v

In the present illustration, the relative sizes in thickness between the tube I and the sleeves 9 and I4 have been exaggerated for sake of clarity. The combined thickness of the two sleeves 9 and I4 will be relatively thin so as not to materially reduce the bore diameter l6.

The sleeves, for descriptive purpose, may be defined as liners, fitting one within the other, the expandable sleeve forming a liner for the tube and the metal, plastic or other .sleeve a liner for the fibre sleeve. This latter liner serves as a means supporting the expansible sleeve in position in the tube as well as providing the desired bore construction for the tube, as will be apparent.

My improved unit comprising the two sleeves in addition to serving as a repair unit to seal end portions of the tubes mounted in tube plates, may also be used in the original construction of a tube unit as a means for reinforcing and rotecting such end portions of the tubes from corrosion and breakdown. In many instances, the use of plastics may produce longer life wear of the tube unit and the event ofbreakdown or Wear of the sleeve units, these may be readily renewed or replaced in adding life to the complete tube unit.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patcut is:

1. A sealing unitfor sealing tube mountings in tube sheets, said unit comprising an elongated sleeve of materially greater than the thickness of a tube sheet, said sleeve having a flanged outer end, a fibre sleeve fitting snugly on the periphery of the first named sleeve, the inner end of the fibre sleeve extending beyond the end of said first named sleeve, the bore of the inner end portion of both of said sleeves hava common and alined taper, and said unit being adapted to be forceably fitted in the end portion of 'a tube mounted in a tube -plate with the of said'unit abutting the outer open end of the tube.

2. A sealing unit for sealing tube mountings in tube sheets, said unit comprising an elongated sleeve of a length materially greater than the thickness of a tube sheet, said sleeve having a hanged outer end, a fibre sleeve fitting snugly on the periphery of the first named sleeve, the inner end of the fibre sle'eve extending beyond the end of said first named sleeve, the bore of the inner end portion bothof said sleeves having acommon and alined'taper, said unit being adapted to be forceably fitted in the end portion of a tube mounted in a tube plate with the flange of saidunit abutting the-outer open end of the tube, said flange comprising a wall thicker than said sleeve and having inner and outer flat surfaces, and said flange having anvinwardly extending annular thin walled rim forming an annular recess on the inner surface of said flange.

3. The herein described means of sealing tube mountings in tube sheets and for reinforcing said tubes, said means comprising a pair of snugly fitting elongated sleeves, .said sleeves being adapted to be fitted snugly in the bore of a tube to line that portion of the tube fitted in a tube sheet and the tube beyond the inner surface of the tube sheet, and the sleeve directly engaging the bore of said tube being composed of expansible sealing material.

4. The herein described means of sealing tube mountingsin tube sheets and for reinforcing said tubes, said means comprising a pair of snugly fitting elongated sleeves, said sleeves being adapted to be fitted snugly in theboreof a tube 4 to line that portion of the tube fitted in a tube sheet and the tube beyond the inner surface of the tube sheet, and the sleeve directly engaging the bore of said tube having moisture absorbing properties.

5. The herein described means of sealing tube mountings in tube sheets and for reinforcing said tubes, said means comprising a pair of snugly fitting elongated sleeves, said sleeves being adapted to be fitted snugly in the bore of a tube to line that portion of the tube fitted in a tube sheet and the tube beyond the inner surface of the tube sheet, the sleeve directly engaging the bore of said tube being composed of expansible sealing material, means on at least one of said sleeves limiting inward movement of the sleeves into the bore of said tube, and the inner end portions of both of sleeves having a tapered bore.

6. The herein described means of sealing tube mountings in tube sheets and for reinforcing said tubes, said means comprising a pair of snugly fitting elongated sleeves, said sleeves being adapted to be fitted snugly the bore of a tube to line that portion of the tube fitted in a tube sheet and the tube beyond the inner surface of the tube sheet, the sleeve directly engaging the bore of said tube being composed of expansible sealing material, means on at least one of said sleeves limiting inward movement of the sleeves into the bore of said tube, the inner end portions of both of said sleeves having a tapered bore, and the taper of one sleeve registering with the taper of the companion sleeve.

7. The herein described means for sealing and reinforcing end portions of tubes disposed in tube sheets, said means comprising a liner of readily expansible material extending the full length of that part of the tube disposed in the tube sheet and beyond the limits of said tube sheet, means forming a facing and liner for the major portion of the bore of said first named liner, and said last named means including an outwardly and radially extending flange portion overlying the outer edge of the first named liner and said tube.

8. The herein described means for sealing and reinforcing end portions of tubes disposed in tube sheets, said means comprising a liner of "readily expansible material extending the full length of that part of the tube disposed in the tube sheet and beyond the'limits of said tube sheet, means forming a facing and liner for the major portion of the bore of said first named liner, said last named means including an outwardly and radially extending flange portion overlying the outer edge of the first named liner and said tube, and the bore of the other end portion of said liners having a common bevel.

WILLIAM M. KENNEDY.

REFERENCES CII'KED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,927,105 l/Velch Sept. 19, 1933 2,195,403 Bay Apr. 2, 1940 2,338,316 Buzzell J an. .4, 1944 2,420,721 Pennella May 20, 1947 

